Method and apparatus for provisioning V2X services

ABSTRACT

A base station apparatus (130, 220) in a network (410) transmits V2X support information indicating that a V2X service is supported by the network (410). In response to receiving V2X support information, a radio terminal (100, 120) transmits, to the network (410), V2X terminal information indicating that the radio terminal (100, 120) is interested in the V2X service. The network (410) transmits V2X configuration to the radio terminal (100, 120) in response to receiving the V2X terminal information transmitted from the radio terminal (100, 120). The radio terminal (100, 120) receives the V2X configuration and performs V2X communication in accordance with the V2X configuration. It is thus, for example, possible to contribute to achievement of a procedure for performing provisioning for the V2X service on the radio terminal that intends to use the V2X service.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/760,728,filed Mar. 16, 2018, which is a National Stage of InternationalApplication No. PCT/JP2016/002979 filed Jun. 21, 2016, claiming prioritybased on Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-185290 filed Sep. 18,2015, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by referencein their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a radio communication system and, inparticular, to a V2X service.

BACKGROUND ART

Non-Patent Literature 1 discloses use cases and potential requirementsregarding Long Term Evolution (LTE) based Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X)services. The V2X means vehicular communications and includesVehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communications, Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I)communications, and Vehicle-to-Pedestrian (V2P) communications. The V2Vcommunications or the V2V Services are communication or services betweenUser Equipments (UEs) that are installed in vehicles and use V2Vapplications. The V2I communications or the V2I Services arecommunications or services between a UE and a Road Side Unit (RSU), bothof which use V2I applications. The V2I communication includesInfrastructures-to-Vehicle (I2V) communications, unless otherwisespecified. Further, the term “UE” as used herein includes not only a UEinstalled in a vehicle but also a UE carried by a pedestrian. The RSU isan entity located on a road side and supports V2I Services includingtransmission and reception to and from vehicle UEs that use V2Iapplications. The RSU is installed in a base station, such as a LTE basestation (i.e., Evolved Node B (eNB)), or in a stationary UE. The V2Pcommunications or the V2P Services are communications or servicesbetween a vehicle UE and a pedestrian UE, both of which use the V2Iapplication. The V2P communications may be performed via an RSU and is,accordingly, referred to as V2I2P communications or P2I2Vcommunications.

Some use cases regarding the V2I Service disclosed in Non-PatentLiterature 1 will be introduced here. Non-Patent Literature 1 discloses,in Section 5.6 V2I Emergency Stop Use Case, a configuration in which avehicle and an RSU are each equipped with a Prose-enabled UEs and thevehicle and the RSU perform Proximity-based services (Prose)communication. ProSe communication is device-to-device (D2D)communication and includes direct communication between two or moreProSe-enabled UEs that are in proximity to each other. In this use case,a vehicle A transmits a message indicating an event, such as anemergency stop, to a service RSU. The service RSU receives this messagefrom the vehicle A and then relays this message to its surroundingvehicles. All vehicles within the transmission range from the serviceRSU are able to receive this message.

In the use case disclosed in Section 5.14 “V2X Road safety service viainfrastructure” of Non-Patent Literature 1, an RSU C detects that anaccident has occurred in the area where the RSU C manages. The RSU Cindicates the occurrence of this accident to a remote server (e.g., aTraffic Safety Server (TSS) or an Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)server) and starts transmission of this information in the area. Theserver informs other RSUs near the RSU C that there is an accident inthe area managed by the RSU C. The other RSUs start transmission of V2Xmessages indicating that there is an accident in the area indicated bythe RSU C.

CITATION LIST Non-Patent Literature

-   [Non-Patent Literature 1] 3GPP S1-151330 “3GPP TR 22.885 V0.2.0    Study on LTE Support for V2X services (Release 14)”, April 2015

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

Non-Patent Literature 1 does not disclose any specific procedure forstarting the V2X service. Accordingly, a procedure for performingprovisioning for the V2X service on a UE using the V2X service, such asa vehicle UE, a pedestrian UE, or an RSU having a UE function, is notclear.

One of the objects to be attained by embodiments disclosed herein is toprovide an apparatus, a method, and a program that contribute toachievement of a procedure for performing provisioning for a V2X serviceon a radio terminal that intends to use the V2X service. It should benoted that this object is merely one of the objects to be attained bythe embodiments disclosed herein. Other objects or problems and novelfeatures will be made apparent from the descriptions in thespecification and the accompanying drawings.

Solution to Problem

In a first aspect, a base station apparatus includes at least onewireless transceiver and at least one processor. The at least oneprocessor is configured to: transmit, via the at least one wirelesstransceiver, V2X support information indicating that aVehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Service is supported by a serving networkincluding the base station apparatus; and in response to receiving V2Xterminal information transmitted from a first radio terminal that hasreceived the V2X support information, transmit V2X configuration to thefirst radio terminal.

In a second aspect, a method in a base station apparatus includes: (a)transmitting V2X support information indicating that aVehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Service is supported by a serving networkincluding the base station apparatus; and (b) in response to receivingV2X terminal information transmitted from a first radio terminal thathas received the V2X support information, transmitting V2X configurationto the first radio terminal.

In a third aspect, a radio terminal includes at least one wirelesstransceiver and at least one processor. The at least one processor isconfigured to: receive from a serving network, via the at least onewireless transceiver, V2X support information indicating that aVehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Service is supported by the serving network;transmit to the serving network, in response to receiving the V2Xsupport information, V2X terminal information indicating that the radioterminal is interested in the V2X service; receive V2X configurationthat is transmitted from the serving network in response to thetransmission of the V2X terminal information; and perform V2Xcommunication in accordance with the V2X configuration.

In a fourth aspect, a method in a radio terminal includes: (a)receiving, from a serving network, V2X support information indicatingthat a Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Service is supported by the servingnetwork; (b) transmitting to the serving network, in response toreceiving the V2X support information, V2X terminal informationindicating that the radio terminal is interested in the V2X service; and(c) receiving V2X configuration that is transmitted from the servingnetwork in response to the transmission of the V2X terminal information,and performing V2X communication in accordance with the V2Xconfiguration.

In a fifth aspect, a cellular communication network includes one or morebase stations and a control entity. The one or more base stations areconfigured to transmit V2X support information indicating that aVehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Service is supported by the cellularcommunication network. The control entity is configured to, in responseto receiving V2X terminal information transmitted from a first radioterminal that has received the V2X support information, transmit V2Xconfiguration to the first radio terminal via the one or more basestations.

In a sixth aspect, a method in a cellular communication networkincludes: (a) transmitting V2X support information indicating that aVehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Service is supported by the cellularcommunication network from one or more base stations, and (b) inresponse to receiving, via the one or more base stations, V2X terminalinformation transmitted from a first radio terminal that has receivedthe V2X support information, transmitting V2X configuration from acontrol entity to the first radio terminal via the one or more basestations.

In a seventh aspect, a program includes instructions (software codes)that, when loaded into a computer, cause the computer to perform themethod according to the above-described second or fourth aspect.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the above-described aspects, it is possible to provide anapparatus, a method, and a program that contribute to achievement of aprocedure for performing provisioning for the V2X service on a radioterminal that intends to use the V2X service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a radiocommunication system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a radiocommunication system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of architecture/deployments of aradio communication system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing one example of a provisioningprocedure for a V2X service according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing one example of a handover procedureaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a first example of a message transfer in aradio communication system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second example of a message transfer in aradio communication system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a third example of a message transfer in aradio communication system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a fourth example of a message transfer in aradio communication system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an RSU anda base station according to an embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an RSU anda radio terminal according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a serverand a V2X controller according to an embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Specific embodiments are described hereinafter in detail with referenceto the drawings. The same or corresponding elements are denoted by thesame reference signs throughout the drawings, and repetitivedescriptions will be omitted as necessary for clarity of explanation.

The following descriptions on the embodiments mainly focus on an EvolvedPacket System (EPS) that contains LTE and System Architecture Evolution(SAE). However, these embodiments are not limited to being applied tothe EPS and may be applied to other mobile communication networks orsystems such as 3GPP UMTS, 3GPP2 CDMA2000 systems (1×RTT, High RatePacket Data (HRPD)), global system for mobile communications (GSM(trademark))/General packet radio service (GPRS) systems, and WiMAXsystems.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a radio communication systemaccording to some embodiments including a first embodiment. Radioterminals (i.e., UEs) 100-102 are installed in vehicles. Each of thevehicle UEs 100-102 may be implemented in an in-vehicle processing unit(e.g., a car navigation system). The vehicle UEs 100-102 each execute aV2I application to support the V2I Service. The UEs 100-102 may supportanother V2X service, i.e., a V2V Service or a V2P Service or both.

RSUs 120 and 121 are each installed on a road side. In the example shownin FIG. 1, the RSU 120 is installed near an intersection 110. The RSUs120 and 121 each may be equipped with, for example, but not limited to,a Prose-enabled UE, and may perform ProSe communication with the vehicleUEs 100-102 to provide the V2I Service. The RSUs 120 and 121 may eachserve as a ProSe UE-to-Network Relay (i.e., Relay UE). The ProSeUE-to-Network Relay mainly relays traffic (i.e., downlink and uplink)between a UE in out-of-coverage (i.e., remote UE) and the network. TheRSUs 120 and 121 each communicate with a base station (eNB) 130 in acellular communication network via a radio connection and alsocommunicate with a server 140 (e.g., an ITS server or a TSS) via the eNB130.

As already described above, Proximity-based services (ProSe) defined in3GPP Release 12 are one example of D2D communication. The D2Dcommunication includes at least one of Direct Communication and DirectDiscovery. In 3GPP Release 12, an inter-UE radio link used for DirectCommunication or Direct Discovery is referred to as a PC5 interface orSidelink. Accordingly, it can be said that ProSe is a general term forcommunications (or services) that use at least the Sidelink. In theexample shown in FIG. 1, the communication between the RSU 120 servingas a UE or a Relay UE and the UE 100 or 101 may use the Sidelink, andthe communication between two or more UEs may also use the Sidelink. In3GPP Release 12, sidelink transmission uses the same frame structure asuplink and downlink transmission of the Long Term Evolution (LTE), anduses a subset of uplink resources in frequency and time domains. In 3GPPRelease 12, a UE performs sidelink transmission by using Single-CarrierFrequency-Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA), which is similar to thescheme used in uplink transmission.

The server 140 communicates with the UEs 100-102 and the RSUs 120 and121 that support the V2X service. More specifically, the server 140communicates with a V2X application executed in each of the UEs 100-102and the RSUs 120 and 12, on the application layer (application level)through a cellular communication network including the base station 130.In other words, the reference point between the server 140 and each ofthe UEs 100-102 may depend on the user plane of the cellularcommunication network and signalling and data between the server 140 andthe UEs 100-102 may be transmitted on the user plane. In a similar way,the reference point between the server 140 and each of the RSUs 120 and121 may depend on the user plane of the cellular communication network.

The server 140 may be an ITS server or a TSS. For example, in responseto receiving, from the RSU 120, report information indicating that anaccident has occurred, the server 140 may inform other RSUs (e.g., RSU121) near the RSU 120 that there is an accident in the area managed bythe RSU 120.

Further, in some implementations, to utilize the V2X service provided bythe cellular communication network, the UEs 100-102 may communicate witha V2X controller 150 via the base station 130 (and via the corenetwork). Similarly, the RSUs 120 and 121 each serving as a UE maycommunicate with the V2X controller 150 via the base station 130 (andvia the core network).

The V2X controller 150 provides logical functions used to performoperations in association with the cellular communication network (i.e.,Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN)) to provide the V2X service. Forexample, the V2X controller 150 may perform authentication or approvalof the UEs 100-102 for the V2X service. The V2X controller 150 mayperform authentication or approval of the RSUs 120 and 121 serving asUEs. The V2X controller 150 may be referred to as a V2X function entity.

The reference point or interface between the server 140 and each of theUEs 100-102 (and the RSUs 120 and 121) may depend on the user plane ofthe cellular communication network and signalling and data between theserver 140 and the UEs 100-102 (and the RSUs 120 and 121) may betransmitted on the user plane.

FIG. 2 shows another configuration example of the radio communicationsystem according to some embodiments including the first embodiment. Inthe example shown in FIG. 2, each of RSUs 220 and 221 serves as a basestation (eNB).

In the configurations shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, some or all of the UEs100-102 may be pedestrian UEs. Further, in the configurations shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the server 140 may be co-located in the same sitetogether with the eNB 130 or with the RSU 220 or 221 serving as an eNB.Such a server is referred to as a Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) server.Alternatively, the server 140 may be installed at a remote site that isgeographically located apart from the site where the eNB 130 (or the RSU220 or 221) is installed and communicate with the eNB 130 via one ormore entities (e.g., a Mobility Management Entity, a Packet Data NetworkGateway (P-GW), and a Serving Gateway (S-GW)) in the cellularcommunication network.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of architecture/deployments ofthe radio communication system according to some embodiments includingthe first embodiment. As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and2, the RSUs 120 and 121 each have the functions of a UE in oneimplementation, and the RSU 220 has the functions of an eNB in anotherimplementation. That is, in some implementations, a UE (e.g., the UE100) supporting the V2X service is able to communicate with the server140 via a path 361 that passes through the RSU 120 serving as a UE andthe eNB 130. Additionally or alternatively, in some implementations, asshown in a path 362 of FIG. 3, a UE (e.g., the UE 100) can be directlyconnected to the eNB 130 without traversing the RSU 120 and communicatewith the server 140. Additionally or alternatively, in someimplementations, as shown in a path 363 of FIG. 3, a UE (e.g., the UE100) can be connected to the RSU 220 serving as an eNB and communicatewith the server 140 via the RSU 220.

Communication 351 between the RSU 120 serving as a UE and the eNB 130may use a dedicated carrier frequency band f1 reserved for the V2Xservice. Alternatively, the communication 351 may use a shared frequencyband (or a Shared spectrum) f2 that is not licensed to any operator oris shared by a plurality of operators. Such a communication using ashared frequency is referred to as Licensed Shared Access (LSA).Alternatively, the communication 351 may use a carrier frequency band f3that is licensed to an operator of the cellular communication network.Similar to the communication 351, communication 352 between the UE 100and the RSU (UE) 120, communication 353 between the UE 100 and the eNB130, and communication 354 between the UE 100 and the RSU 220 serving asan eNB may use any one of the above-described frequency bands f1, f2,and f3. Further, communication between UEs (not shown) may also use anyone of the above-described frequency bands f1, f2, and f3.

Next, in the following description, a procedure for provisioning the V2Xservice will be explained. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing aprocess 400, which is one example of the provisioning procedure. Anetwork 410 includes at least the eNB 130 in the configuration examplein FIG. 1 or includes at least the RSU 220 serving as an eNB in theconfiguration example shown in FIG. 2. The network 410 may furtherinclude the V2X controller 150.

In Step 401, the network 410 transmits V2X support informationindicating that the V2X service is supported by a serving network(cellular communication network) including the eNB 130. The V2X supportinformation is transmitted by the eNB 130 or by the RSU 220 serving asan eNB. Further, the V2X support information may be transmitted by anRSU serving as a UE. In this case, this RSU may broadcast or groupcast apart or all of the V2X support information received from the eNB 130.

The V2X support information may indicate at least one of: (a) the V2Xservice is available; (b) a carrier frequency band to be used for theV2X service; (c) measurement configuration of the carrier frequency bandto be used for the V2X service; (d) a supported type(s) of the V2Xservice (e.g., V2V, V2I, V2P); and (e) transmission power allowed forthe radio terminal for the V2X service. The transmission of the V2Xsupport information may implicitly indicate that (a) the V2X service isavailable. Further, together with the indication of (b) a carrierfrequency band to be used for the V2X service, an identifier (e.g., aPLMN identity list) of a network or an identifier (e.g., a V2X arealist) of an area in which the V2X service is provided may betransmitted.

Additionally or alternatively, the V2X support information may indicatea radio resource pool to be used by each UE for autonomous resourceselection for the V2X service. This radio resource pool may include: aradio resource pool per type of V2X service included in the V2X service(e.g., V2V, V2I, V2P); a radio resource pool per V2X operation mode(e.g., a relay mode, a direct mode) of an RSU serving as a UE; a radioresource pool per V2X service area; a radio resource pool per devicetype of a UE (e.g., RSU, Vehicle, Pedestrian); or a radio resource poolper pre-configured category (e.g., speed, traveling (or moving)direction, traffic lane). This radio resource pool may be configured foreach carrier frequency band on which the V2X service is performed.

Additionally or alternatively, the V2X support information may include asynchronization configuration for V2X.

The eNB 130 or the RSU (eNB) 220 may broadcast the V2X supportinformation in a cell served by the eNB 130 or the RSU (eNB) 220 in sucha way that at least UEs in an idle state (e.g., RRC IDLE) are able toreceive the V2X support information. The eNB 130 or the RSU (eNB) 220may transmit the V2X support information on a Broadcast Control Channel(BCCH) that carries a System Information Block (SIB).

The eNB 130 or the RSU (eNB) 220 may transmit the V2X supportinformation on both a first carrier frequency band used for the cellularcommunication (e.g., the frequency band f3 licensed to the cellularoperator) and a second carrier frequency band used for the V2X service(e.g., the frequency band f1 dedicated for V2X). In some implementationsin which the V2X support information is transmitted on both these twofrequency bands, information transmitted on one of the frequency bands(e.g., the frequency band f3 licensed to the cellular operator) may beprioritized over information transmitted on the other one of thefrequency bands (e.g., the frequency band f1 dedicated for V2X).

In some implementations, when the UE 100 is out-of-coverage of thecellular communication network, the UE 100 may use the V2X supportinformation transmitted on the V2X dedicated frequency band f1. Forexample, the RSU (UE) 120 may receive the V2X support informationtransmitted from the eNB 130 and then broadcast or groupcast (at least apart of) the received V2X support information on the frequency band f1dedicated for the V2X service. Alternatively, the RSU (UE) 120 maytransfer (or relay) the received V2X support information to the UE 100on the frequency band f1. Alternatively, the UE 100 may useconfigurations stored in advance (e.g., pre-configured radio resourcesfor V2X).

In Step 402 of FIG. 4, in response to receiving the V2X supportinformation, the UE 100 or the RSU 120 transmits, to the network 410,V2X terminal information (i.e., V2X UE Information) indicating that theUE 100 or the RSU 120 is interested in the V2X service.

The V2X UE Information may indicate at least one of: (a) the UE 100 orthe RSU 120 is interested in the V2X service; (b) the UE 100 or the RSU120 desires to use the V2X service; (c) a frequency band that the UE 100or the RSU 120 supports for the V2X service; (d) a frequency bandavailable to the UE 100 or the RSU 120 for the V2X service; (e) a typeof V2X service in which the UE 100 or the RSU 120 is interested (e.g.,V2V, V2I, V2P); and (f) a device type of the UE 100 or the RSU 120(e.g., RSU, Vehicle, Pedestrian).

Additionally or alternatively, the V2X UE Information may include an RSUindication. The RSU indication indicates whether the source UE is anRSU. Further, the RSU indication may indicate a type of RSU. The RSUtype may indicate a type of road on which an RSU is installed (e.g., aninbound lane, an outbound lane, a road under an elevated structure, anelevated road, a road on the ground, a road under the ground, a generalroad, or an expressway). The RSU indication may be transmitted from aMobility Management Entity (MME) to an eNB (i.e., the eNB 130 or the RSU(eNB) 220) using an E-RAB SETUP REQUEST message or an INITIAL CONTEXTSETUP REQUEST message.

The V2X UE Information may be transmitted during a procedure forestablishing a control connection (e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC)Connection) with the eNB 130 or the RSU (eNB) 220. For example, the UE100 or the RSU 120 may transmit the V2X UE Information using an RRCConnection Setup Complete message or a UE capability signalling duringan RRC connection establishment procedure. When the RSU (UE) 120transmits the V2X UE Information (e.g., RSU indication), the eNB 130 maytransmit, using an S1AP INITIAL UE MESSAGE message or an E-RAB SETUPRESPONSE message, information indicating that this message relates to anRSU (e.g., RSU Indicator) to an MME.

In Step 403 of FIG. 4, the network 410 (e.g., the eNB 130, the RSU 220,or the V2X controller 150) transmits V2X configuration to the UE 100 orthe RSU 120, in response to receiving the V2X UE Information from the UE100 or the RSU 120. For example, the V2X configuration may betransmitted using an RRC Connection Reconfiguration message. Thegeneration of the V2X configuration on the basis of the V2X UEInformation transmitted from the UE 100 or the RSU 120 may be performedby the eNB 130 or the RSU 220 serving as an eNB, or it may be performedby the V2X controller 150. The UE 100 or the RSU 120 receives the V2Xconfiguration transmitted from the network 410 and performs V2Xcommunication in accordance with the received V2X configuration.

The V2X configuration may be transmitted on any one of the dedicatedcarrier frequency band f1 reserved for the V2X service, the sharedfrequency band f2 for LSA, and the carrier frequency band f3 licensed tothe operator of the cellular communication network. Further, the V2Xconfiguration may be transmitted from the RSU 120. For example, the RSU(UE) 120 may receive the V2X configuration transmitted from the eNB 130and then groupcast (at least a part of) the V2X configuration on thefrequency band f1 dedicated for the V2X service. Alternatively, the RSU(UE) 120 may transfer (or relay) the received V2X configuration to theUE 100 on the frequency band f1.

In some implementations, the V2X configuration may indicate measurementconfiguration of the carrier frequency band used for the V2X service. Insome implementations, the V2X configuration may include radio resourceconfiguration for the V2X service. This radio resource configuration mayinclude configuration of a Data Radio Bearer (DRB), configuration of aSignalling Radio Bearer (SRB), or both. The DRB configuration mayinclude at least one of the following elements:

Configuration of a Physical Multicast Channel (PMCH) for MultimediaBroadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS);

Configuration of a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) for SingleCell Point to Multi-point (SC-PTM);

Logical Channel ID (LCID); and

E-UTRAN Radio Access Bearer (E-RAB) identity.

Additionally or alternatively, the V2X configuration may indicate aradio resource pool to be used by the UE 100 or the RSU 120 forautonomous resource selection for the V2X service. The V2X configurationmay indicate allocation of dedicated radio resources for the V2X serviceto the UE 100 or the RSU 120.

For example, in response to receiving from the RSU 120 the V2X UEInformation containing the RSU indication indicating that the source UEis an RSU, the network 410 may transmit to the RSU 120 a V2Xconfiguration indicating allocation of radio resources reserved forRSUs. Alternatively, in response to receiving a notification that issent from a higher-level apparatus (e.g., MME) to a lower-levelapparatus (e.g., eNB) of the network 410 to inform that a UE is an RSU,the network 410 may transmit to the RSU 120 the V2X configurationindicating allocation of radio resources reserved for RSUs. This allowsthe network 410 to distinguish the RSU 120 serving as a UE from thenormal UE 100 and to allocate radio resources (e.g., frequencies),different from radio resources (e.g., frequencies) allocated to thenormal UE 100, to the RSU 120 serving as a UE.

Additionally or alternatively, the network 410 may transmit, to the RSU120, RSU configuration indicating how the RSU 120 should operate. TheRSU configuration may be transmitted using an RRC ConnectionReconfiguration message. The RSU configuration may include at least apart of the V2X configuration. The RSU configuration may implicitly orexplicitly inform the RSU 120 about whether the RSU 120 should serve asa Relay UE to transmit the V2X report message to the network (e.g., eNB)or serve as a V2X UE to transmit the V2X report message to the network(e.g., eNB) in response to receiving a V2V message. When the RSUconfiguration implicitly indicates the above, the RSU 120 may make adetermination based on whether the RSU configuration includes radioresource configuration information (e.g. Radio Resource configuration)that is necessary for the RSU 120 to serve as a Relay UE. For example,the RSU 120 may serve as a Relay UE when this radio resourceconfiguration information is included, and the RSU 120 may serve as aV2V UE when this radio resource configuration information is notincluded. When the RSU configuration explicitly indicates the above, theRSU configuration may indicate an operation mode of an RSU. Theoperation mode may be, for example, a Relay UE mode or a V2V UE mode.

A V2X Service Area (SA) may be defined to specify an area where the sameV2X configuration is applied. The V2X SA may be defined in any one of: adedicated carrier frequency band f1 secured for the V2X Service; ashared frequency band f2 for LSA; and a carrier frequency band f3licensed to an operator of a cellular communication network. Forexample, a cell may be defined on the frequency band f3, and meanwhilethe V2X SA may be defined on the frequency band f1 or f2. The V2X SA maybe defined independently from a cell(s) or may be defined in associationwith a cell(s). In the former case, there may be a plurality of V2X SAsin one cell or there may be a V2X SA across a plurality of cells (i.e.,a V2X SA that at least partially covers each of the plurality of cells).In the latter case, one V2X SA may be defined by one cell or by acombination of cells. Further, when a UE moves between cells belongingto the same V2X SA (i.e., the UE performs a cell re-selection orhandover between the cells), the UE may continue the V2X Service withoutsuspending this service. Alternatively, the UE may suspend the V2Xservice while performing the cell re-selection or handover and thenresume this service after completion of the cell re-selection orhandover. That is, it can be considered that the V2X SA is a “validarea” of the V2X configuration. Information about the V2X SA (e.g., V2XSA Index (ID)) may be transmitted as one of information elements (IEs)contained in the V2X configuration or may be transmitted by a message orsignalling other than the V2X configuration. For example, the eNB 130 orthe RSU (eNB) 220 may incorporate the information about the V2X SA intothe V2X configuration and then transmit the V2X configuration on thefrequency band f3. In this case, the RSU (UE) 120 may further transmitinformation about the V2X SA on the frequency band f1 or f2. The RSU(UE) 120 may broadcast or groupcast the information about the V2X SA ortransfer (or relay) this information to the UE 100.

According to the procedure described with reference to FIG. 4, it ispossible to perform provisioning that is required for the UE 100 or theRSU 120, which serves as a UE, to start the V2X service.

Second Embodiment

This embodiment provides a specific example of a handover of a UE thatsupports the V2X service. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the UE 100 mayperform a handover from a source cell served by an eNB 130S to a targetcell served by an eNB 130T. In a similar way, in the example shown inFIG. 2, the UE 100 may perform a handover from a source cell served bythe RSU (eNB) 220 to a target cell served by the RSU (eNB) 221.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a process 500, which is one exampleof a handover procedure according to this embodiment. In Step 501, theUE 100 is connected to the source eNB 130S (or the RSU 220) and carriesout the V2X service (i.e., V2X communication). In Step 502, the UE 100transmits a measurement report to the source eNB 130S (or the RSU 220).This measurement report is transmitted when a value measured by the UE100 meets a predetermined handover event condition.

In Step 503, the source eNB 130S (or the RSU 220) determines to performa handover of the UE 100 based on the measurement report and sends ahandover request that contains V2X indication to the target eNB 130T (orthe RSU 221). The V2X indication indicates at least one of: the UE 100is interested in the V2X service; the UE 100 is allowed to utilize theV2X service; the UE 100 has already been authenticated for the V2Xservice; and the UE 100 has already been approved for the V2X service.

In Step 504, in response to receiving the handover request, the targeteNB 130T (or the RSU 221) sends to the source eNB 130S (or the RSU 220)a handover response (i.e., Handover Request ACK) indicating that itaccepts the handover. This handover response contains V2X configurationregarding the target cell served by the target eNB 130T (or the RSU221).

In Step 505, the source eNB 130S (or the RSU 220) transmits a handovercommand (i.e., RRC Connection Reconfiguration message) containing theV2X configuration regarding the target cell to instruct the UE 100 toperform the handover to the target cell. The V2X configuration mayinclude information about the V2X service provided in the target cell orinformation about the V2X service area that the target cell contains (orthe V2X service area in which the target cell is contained) (e.g., V2XSA Index (ID)).

In Step 506, in response to receiving the handover command (i.e., RRCConnection Reconfiguration message), the UE 100 switches to the targeteNB 130T (or the RSU 221). That is, the UE 100 performs a random-accessprocedure to the target eNB 130T (or the RSU 221) to establishsynchronization with the target cell and transmits a Handover Confirmmessage (i.e., RRC Connection Reconfiguration Complete message) to thetarget eNB 130T (or the RSU 221).

In Step 507, the UE 100 transmits the V2X UE Information to the targeteNB 130T (or the RSU 221). Alternatively, the V2X UE Information aboutthe UE 100 may be transmitted from the source eNB 130S (or the RSU 220)to the target eNB 130T (or the RSU 221) in Step 503. In this case, thetransmission of the V2X UE Information in Step 507 may be omitted.

In Step 508, the UE 100 performs the V2X service (i.e., V2Xcommunication) in the target cell served by the target eNB 130T (or theRSU 221).

As described above, in this embodiment, the source eNB 130S (or the RSU220) is configured to send the V2X indication regarding the UE 100 tothe target eNB 130T (or the RSU 221) during the handover preparationprocedure (i.e., Step 503). Further, the target eNB 130T (or the RSU221) is configured to, when it accepts the handover request containingthe V2X indication, send the V2X configuration of the target cell to thesource eNB 130S (or the RSU 220) during the handover preparationprocedure (i.e., Step 504). The handover procedure in this embodiment,thus, allows the UE 100 to continue the V2X service after the handover.The UE 100 may continue the V2X service during the handover. Forexample, when the target cell (or the eNB 130T) of the handover providesthe same V2X service as the source cell (or the eNB 130S), or when thetarget cell is included in the same V2X service area (V2X SA) as thesource cell, the UE 100 may continue the V2X service.

Third Embodiment

This embodiment provides some specific examples of a message transferregarding V2X. FIG. 6 shows a first example of the message transfer. Inthe example shown in FIG. 6, in response to receiving a notification 660from the vehicle UE 100, the RSU (UE) 120 generates V2X reportinformation 670 based on the notification 660 and sends the V2X reportinformation 670 to the server 140 via the eNB 130.

For example, the RSU (UE) 120 may inspect (or detect) the content of thenotification 660 in the application layer and generate the V2X reportinformation 670 that contains the content of the notification 660. TheRSU (UE) 120 may transmit the V2X report information 670 when thecontent of the notification 660 satisfies a predetermined condition(e.g., when the content of the notification 660 relates to apredetermined category, group, or service).

Alternatively, the RSU (UE) 120 may detect the type of content of thenotification 660 (e.g., a category, a group, or a service) on the basisof a layer 2 header (e.g., a Medium Access Control (MAC) header) usedfor the transmission of the notification 660, and transmit the V2Xreport information 670 in response to detecting a predetermined contenttype.

The notification 660 may be, for example, but not limited to, a messageregarding an emergency stop or an accident regarding a vehicle equippedwith the UE 100, a message regarding a driving status of the vehicle, ora message regarding conditions of nearby roads (e.g., a traffic jam,weather, an accident, or an obstacle on the road). The UE 100 mayincorporate into the notification 660 a V2V message received fromanother vehicle (UE) via V2V communication, or a message derived fromthe V2V message. The notification 660 may be a V2V message transmittedfrom the UE 100 to another (unspecified) UE and the RSU (UE) 120 mayreceive this V2V message as the notification 660. Alternatively, thenotification 660 may be a dedicated message (e.g., Uu UL) from the UE100 to the RSU (UE) 120 and the RSU (UE) 120 may receive this dedicatedmessage as the notification 660.

The RSU (UE) 120 may autonomously generate the V2X report information670 without depending on the reception of the notification 660 from thevehicle UE 100. For example, the RSU (UE) 120 may monitor conditions ofroads in its management area (e.g., a traffic jam, weather, an accident,or an obstacle on the road) using sensors, such as cameras and weatherinstruments, and generate the V2X report information 670 based on theresult of the monitoring.

In some implementations, the RSU (UE) 120 may transmit the V2X reportinformation 670 to the sever 140 on the user plane (U-plane). In thiscase, the eNB 130 may simply transfer (transparently) the V2X reportinformation 670. Alternatively, in some implementations, the RSU (UE)120 may transmit the V2X report information 670 on the control plane(C-plane). In this case, the eNB 130 may generate a V2X report messagecontaining the V2X report information 670 in response to receiving theV2X report information 670 from the RSU (UE) 120, and then transmit thisV2X report message to the server 140. The eNB 130 may transmit this V2Xreport message either on the control plane (C-plane) or on the userplane (U-plane).

In response to receiving the V2X report information 670 from the RSU(UE) 120, the server 140 generates a V2X control message 680 based onthe V2X report information 670. The V2X control message 680 may include,for example, a warning about road conditions (e.g., occurrence of anaccident or a traffic jam) or detour route guidance. The server 140transmits the V2X control message 680 in such a way that vehicle UEsincluding the vehicle UEs 100-102 can receive the V2X control message680. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the V2X control message 680 istransmitted from the server 140 to the RSUs (UEs) 120 and 121 via theeNB 130 and then transmitted to the vehicle UEs 100-102 by each RSU(UE). Each RSU may transmit the V2X control message 680 to each UE viaunicast, or it may transmit the V2X control message 680 to a pluralityof UEs via groupcast, multicast, or broadcast. In the groupcast, forexample, a receiver side (e.g., UE) determines whether informationshould be received by performing certain filtering processing, andrestores this information if this information should be received. In thecertain filtering processing, for example, a UE may restore a groupidentifier contained in the layer-2 header and determine whether thisgroup identifier should be received. The group identifier may beconfigured in the receiver side (e.g., UE) in advance or may be sentfrom the transmitter side (e.g., eNB or application server). The groupidentifier may be information indicating a specific group (e.g., UEs) ormay be a V2X SA Index (ID).

A second example shown in FIG. 7 shows another delivery path of the V2Xcontrol message 680 different from the delivery path shown in FIG. 6. Inthe example shown in FIG. 7, the V2X control message 680 is transmittedfrom the eNB 130 directly to the vehicle UEs 100-102 without traversingthe RSUs (UEs) 120 and 121. For example, the eNB 130 maybroadcast/multicast the V2X control message 680 in such a way that aplurality of UEs located within a cell served by the eNB 130 can receivethis message.

In some implementations, the eNB 130 may transmit the V2X controlmessage 680 on the user plane (U-plane). Specifically, the eNB 130 maytransmit the V2X control message 680 using a broadcast bearer, amulticast bearer, or a Point-to-Multipoint (PTM) bearer. The V2X controlmessage 680 may be transmitted on a Data Radio Bearer for carrying MBMSdata, i.e., an MBMS Radio Bearer (MRB) or a Point-to-Multipoint (PTM)Radio Bearer. In MBMS, the same data (message) is transmitted to aplurality of UEs via a common MRB (or a PTM radio bearer).

Alternatively, in some implementations, the eNB 130 may transmit the V2Xcontrol message 680 on the control plane (C-plane). The eNB 130 maytransmit the V2X control message 680 on a Broadcast Control Channel(BCCH) that carries a System Information Block (SIB). For example, aPublic Warning System (PWS) for CBS in LTE/Evolved Packet System (EPS)may be used. The 3GPP specifies, as the PWS, Earthquake and TsunamiWarning System (ETWS) used in Japan, Commercial Mobile Alert System(CMAS) used in North America, Korean Public Alert System (KPAS) used inKorea, and EU-ALERT used in European countries. In the PWS, warningmessages (Primary Notification and Secondary Notification) aretransmitted by SIB 10 and SIB 11. When the V2X control message 680 istransmitted on the C-plane, it may be transmitted from the server 140 tothe eNB 130 via an MME. In this case, the V2X control message may betransmitted by a WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST message.

FIG. 8 shows a third example of the message transfer. In the exampleshown in FIG. 8, the RSUs 120 and 121 each serve as a ProSeUE-to-Network Relay (i.e., a Relay UE). The RSUs 120 and 121 serving asProSe UE-to-Network Relays (i.e., Relay UEs) do transmit the applicationlayer of the vehicle UE 100 (i.e., ProSe Remote UE) transparentlywithout terminating it. Accordingly, in the example shown in FIG. 8, theRSU 100 receives, from the UE 100, V2X report information 870 that isapplication-layer information, and then forwards this information to theeNB 130. That is, the V2X report information 870 transmitted from thevehicle UE 100 is relayed by the RSU 120 serving as a Relay UE and bythe eNB 130, and finally reaches the server 140. The server 140generates a V2X control message 880 in response to receiving the V2Xreport information 870, and transmits this message to the plurality ofUEs 100-102. The V2X control message 880 may be transmitted to theplurality of UEs 100-102 via the eNB 130 and the RSU 120 or 121.Alternatively, similar to the second example described with reference toFIG. 7, the V2X control message 880 may be transmitted from the eNB 130directly to the plurality of UEs 100-102 without traversing the RSUs 10and 121.

FIG. 9 shows a fourth example of the message transfer. In the exampleshown in FIG. 9, each of the RSUs 220 and 221 serves as a base station(eNB). In response to receiving a notification 960 from the vehicle UE100, the RSU (eNB) 220 generates a V2X report information 970 based onthe notification 960 and sends the V2X report information 970 to theserver 140. The notification 960 may be a dedicated message (e.g., UuUL) from the UE 100 to an RSU (eNB), or it may be a V2V message. The RSU(eNB) 220 may transmit the V2X report information 970 either on thecontrol plane (C-plane) or on the user plane (U-plane).

In response to receiving the V2X report information 970 from the RSU(eNB) 220, the server 140 generates a V2X control message 980 based onthe V2X report information 970. Similar to the examples shown in FIGS. 6and 7, the server 140 transmits the V2X control message 980 in such away that a plurality of vehicle UEs including the vehicle UEs 100-102can receive the V2X control message 980. However, in the example shownin FIG. 9, the V2X control message 980 is transmitted from the server140 to the RSUs (eNBs) 220 and 221 and is transmitted to the vehicle UEs100-102 by the RSUs (eNBs). The RSUs (eNBs) 220 and 221 may transmit theV2X control message 980 either on the U-plane or on the C-plane, similarto the eNB 130 shown in FIG. 7.

FIGS. 6-9 show the examples in which the V2X control messages 680, 880,and 980 are received by the plurality of vehicle UEs 100-102. However,the V2X control messages 680, 880, and 980 may be received bypedestrians (i.e., pedestrian UEs). The V2X control message may containinformation for vehicle UEs and information for pedestrian UEs, and eachUE performs filtering to extract the necessary information from the V2Xcontrol message. The V2X control message for vehicle UEs and the V2Xcontrol message for pedestrian UEs may be transmitted using transmissionformats different from each other (e.g., U-plane and C-plane).

The plurality of examples of the message transfer shown in FIGS. 6-9 maybe appropriately combined with one another. Specifically, any one of thethree paths 361, 362, and 363 shown in FIG. 3 may be used for themessage transfer from the vehicle UE 100 to the server 140. In a similarway, any one of the three paths 361, 362, and 363 shown in FIG. 3 may beused for the message transfer from the server 140 to the vehicle UE 100.

When the RSU (UE) 120 and the eNB 130 shown in FIG. 6 are used togetherwith the RSU (eNB) 220 shown in FIG. 9, the eNB 130 may transfer the V2Xreport information 670 to the RSU (eNB) 220 via an inter-base-stationinterface (e.g., X2 interface). Further, the eNB 130 may transfer theV2X control message 680 to the RSU (eNB) 220 via an inter-base-stationinterface (e.g., X2 interface).

The following provides configuration examples of the UEs 100-102, theRSUs 120 and 220, the eNB 130, the server 140, and the V2X controller150 described in the above embodiments. FIG. 10 is a block diagramshowing a configuration example of the eNB 130. The RSU 220, whichserves as an eNB, may have a configuration similar to that shown in FIG.10. Referring to FIG. 10, the eNB 130 includes an RF transceiver 1001, anetwork interface 1003, a processor 1004, and a memory 1005. The RFtransceiver 1001 performs analog RF signal processing to communicatewith UEs. The RF transceiver 1001 may include a plurality oftransceivers. The RF transceiver 1001 is coupled to an antenna 1002 andthe processor 1004. The RF transceiver 1001 receives modulated symboldata (or OFDM symbol data) from the processor 1004, generates atransmission RF signal, and supplies the transmission RF signal to theantenna 1002. Further, the RF transceiver 1001 generates a basebandreception signal based on a reception RF signal received by the antenna1002 and supplies the baseband reception signal to the processor 1004.

The network interface 1003 is used to communicate with the network node(e.g., other eNBs, Mobility Management Entity (MME), Serving Gateway(S-GW), and TSS or ITS server). The network interface 1003 may include,for example, a network interface card (NIC) conforming to the IEEE 802.3series.

The processor 1004 performs data plane processing including digitalbaseband signal processing and control plane processing for radiocommunication. In the case of LTE and LTE-Advanced, for example, thedigital baseband signal processing performed by the processor 1004 mayinclude signal processing of a PDCP layer, an RLC layer, a MAC layer,and a PHY layer. Further, the signal processing performed by theprocessor 1004 may include signal processing of a GTP-U·UDP/IP layer forX2-U and S1-U interfaces. Further, the control plane processingperformed by the processor 1004 may include processing of an X2APprotocol, an S1-MME protocol, and an RRC protocol.

The processor 1004 may include a plurality of processors. The processor1004 may include, for example, a modem processor (e.g., a DSP) thatperforms the digital baseband signal processing, a processor (e.g., aDSP) that performs signal processing of the GTP-U·UDP/IP layer for theX2-U and S1-U interfaces, and a protocol stack processor (e.g., a CPU oran MPU) that performs the control plane processing.

The memory 1005 is composed of a combination of a volatile memory and anon-volatile memory. The memory 1005 may include a plurality of memorydevices that are physically independent from each other. The volatilememory is, for example, a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), a DynamicRAM (DRAM), or a combination thereof. The non-volatile memory is a maskRead Only Memory (MROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM(EEPROM), a flash memory, a hard disc drive, or any combination thereof.The memory 1005 may include a storage that is located away from theprocessor 1004. In this case, the processor 1004 may access the memory1005 via the network interface 1003 or an I/O interface (not shown).

The memory 1005 may store software modules (computer programs) includinginstructions and data to perform the processing by the eNB 130 describedin the above embodiments. In some implementations, the processor 1004may be configured to load the software modules from the memory 1005 andexecute the loaded software modules, thereby performing processing ofthe eNB 130 described in the above embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the RSU120 serving as a UE (or a Relay UE). The UEs 101 and 102 may haveconfigurations similar to the configuration shown in FIG. 11. A RadioFrequency (RF) transceiver 1101 performs analog RF signal processing tocommunicate with the eNB 130. The analog RF signal processing performedby the RF transceiver 1101 includes frequency up-conversion, frequencydown-conversion, and amplification. The RF transceiver 1101 is coupledto an antenna 1102 and a baseband processor 1103. That is, the RFtransceiver 1101 receives modulated symbol data (or OFDM symbol data)from the baseband processor 1103, generates a transmission RF signal,and supplies the transmission RF signal to the antenna 1102. Further,the RF transceiver 1101 generates a baseband reception signal based on areception RF signal received by the antenna 1102, and supplies thebaseband reception signal to the baseband processor 1103.

The baseband processor 1103 performs digital baseband signal processing(i.e., data plane processing) and control plane processing for radiocommunication. The digital baseband signal processing includes (a) datacompression/decompression, (b) data segmentation/concatenation, (c)composition/decomposition of a transmission format (i.e., transmissionframe), (d) channel coding/decoding, (e) modulation (i.e., symbolmapping)/demodulation, and (f) generation of OFDM symbol data (i.e.,baseband OFDM signal) by Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT). On theother hand, the control plane processing includes communicationmanagement of layer 1 (e.g., transmission power control), layer 2 (e.g.,radio resource management and hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ)processing), and layer 3 (e.g., signalling regarding attach, mobility,and call management).

In the case of LTE and LTE-Advanced, for example, the digital basebandsignal processing performed by the baseband processor 1103 may includesignal processing of a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, aRadio Link Control (RLC) layer, the MAC layer, and the PHY layer.Further, the control plane processing performed by the basebandprocessor 1103 may include processing of a Non-Access Stratum (NAS)protocol, an RRC protocol, and MAC CEs.

The baseband processor 1103 may include a modem processor (e.g., aDigital Signal Processor (DSP)) that performs the digital basebandsignal processing and a protocol stack processor (e.g., a CentralProcessing Unit (CPU) or a Micro Processing Unit (MPU)) that performsthe control plane processing. In this case, the protocol stackprocessor, which performs the control plane processing, may beintegrated with an application processor 1104 described in thefollowing.

The application processor 1104 is also referred to as a CPU, an MPU, amicroprocessor, or a processor core. The application processor 1104 mayinclude a plurality of processors (processor cores). The applicationprocessor 1104 executes a system software program (Operating System(OS)) and various application programs (e.g., a voice call application,a WEB browser, a mailer, a camera operation application, and a musicplayer application) loaded from a memory 1106 or from another memory(not shown), thereby providing various functions of the RSU 120.

In some implementations, as represented by a dashed line (1105) in FIG.11, the baseband processor 1103 and the application processor 1104 maybe integrated on a single chip. In other words, the baseband processor1103 and the application processor 1104 may be implemented in a singleSystem on Chip (SoC) device 1105. An SoC device may be referred to as asystem Large Scale Integration (LSI) or a chipset.

The memory 1106 is a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, or acombination thereof. The memory 1106 may include a plurality of memorydevices that are physically independent from each other. The volatilememory is, for example, a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), a DynamicRAM (DRAM), or a combination thereof. The non-volatile memory is, forexample, a Mask Read Only memory (MROM), an Electrically ErasableProgrammable ROM (EEPROM), a flash memory, a hard disc drive, or anycombination thereof. The memory 1106 may include, for example, anexternal memory device that can be accessed from the baseband processor1103, the application processor 1104, and the SoC 1105. The memory 1106may include an internal memory device that is integrated in the basebandprocessor 1103, the application processor 1104, or the SoC 1105.Further, the memory 1106 may include a memory in a Universal IntegratedCircuit Card (UICC).

The memory 1106 may store software modules (computer programs) includinginstructions and data to perform processing by the RSU 120 described inthe above embodiments. In some implementations, the baseband processor1103 or the application processor 1104 may load the software modulesfrom the memory 1106 and execute the loaded software modules, therebyperforming the processing of the RSU 120 described in the aboveembodiments.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the server140. The V2X controller 150 may also have a configuration similar to theconfiguration shown in FIG. 12. Referring to FIG. 12, the server 140includes a network interface 1201, a processor 1202, and a memory 1203.The network interface 1201 is used to communicate with the network node(e.g., the eNodeB 130, the MME, or the P-GW). The network interface 1201may include, for example, a network interface card (NIC) conforming tothe IEEE 802.3 series.

The processor 1202 loads software (computer programs) from the memory1203 and executes the loaded software (computer programs), therebyperforming processing of the server 140 described with reference to thesequence diagram and the flowchart in the above-described embodiments.The processor 1202 may be, for example, a microprocessor, an MPU, or aCPU. The processor 1202 may include a plurality of processors.

The memory 1203 is composed of a combination of a volatile memory and anon-volatile memory. The memory 1203 may include a storage that islocated away from the processor 1202. In this case, the processor 1202may access the memory 1203 via an I/O interface (not shown).

In the example shown in FIG. 12, the memory 1203 is used to storesoftware modules. The processor 1202 loads these software modules fromthe memory 1203 and executes the loaded software modules, therebyperforming processing of the server 140 described in the aboveembodiments.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 10-12, each of the processorsincluded in the UEs 100-102, the RSUs 120 and 320, the eNB 130, theserver 140, and the V2X controller 150 according to the aboveembodiments executes one or more programs including instructions tocause a computer to perform an algorithm described with reference to thedrawings. The program(s) can be stored and provided to a computer usingany type of non-transitory computer readable media. Non-transitorycomputer readable media include any type of tangible storage media.Examples of non-transitory computer readable media include magneticstorage media (such as flexible disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives,etc.), optical magnetic storage media (e.g., magneto-optical disks),Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), CD-R, CD-R/W, and semiconductormemories (such as mask ROM, Programmable ROM (PROM), Erasable PROM(EPROM), flash ROM, Random Access Memory (RAM), etc.). The program(s)may be provided to a computer using any type of transitory computerreadable media. Examples of transitory computer readable media includeelectric signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. Transitorycomputer readable media can provide the program to a computer via awired communication line (e.g., electric wires, and optical fibers) or awireless communication line.

Other Embodiments

In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the RSUs 120 and 121 each may beconfigured to periodically transmit a keep-alive message or a heartbeatmessage to the eNB 130 or the server 140. Upon failing to receive akeep-alive or heartbeat message from an RSU, the eNB 130 or the server140 may detect that a fault has occurred in this RSU.

The descriptions of the above embodiments mainly focus onLTE/LTE-Advanced and extensions thereof. However, the above-describedembodiments may be applied to other radio communication networks orsystems.

Further, the embodiments described above are merely examples ofapplications of the technical ideas obtained by the present inventors.Needless to say, these technical ideas are not limited to theabove-described embodiments and various modifications can be madethereto.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2015-185290, filed on Sep. 18, 2015, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   100-102 UE-   120, 121 RSU-   130 eNB-   140 SERVER-   150 V2X CONTROLLER-   220, 221 RSU-   1001 RF TRANSCEIVER-   1004 PROCESSOR-   1101 RF TRANSCEIVER-   1103 BASEBAND PROCESSOR-   1104 APPLICATION PROCESSOR-   1202 PROCESSOR-   1203 MEMORY

The invention claimed is:
 1. A base station apparatus used in a cellularcommunication network, the base station apparatus comprising: at leastone wireless transceiver; and at least one processor configured to:transmit V2X support information via the at least one wirelesstransceiver, the V2X support information indicating that aVehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Service is supported by a serving networkincluding the base station apparatus; and in response to receiving V2Xterminal information transmitted from a first radio terminal that hasreceived the V2X support information, transmit V2X configuration to thefirst radio terminal, wherein the V2X terminal information indicates afrequency which is used by the first radio terminal for the V2X service.2. The base station apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at leastone processor is configured to broadcast the V2X support information insuch a way that a plurality of radio terminals including the first radioterminal are able to receive the V2X support information in a cellprovided by the base station apparatus.
 3. The base station apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configuredto transmit the V2X support information on both a first carrierfrequency band used for cellular communication and a second carrierfrequency band used for the V2X service.
 4. The base station apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the V2X support information indicates atleast one of: (a) the V2X service is available; (b) a carrier frequencyband to be used for the V2X service; (c) measurement configuration ofthe carrier frequency band used for the V2X service; (d) a supportedtype of the V2X service; and (e) transmission power allowed for theradio terminal for the V2X service.
 5. The base station apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the V2X terminal information indicates atleast one of a frequency band that the first radio terminal supports forthe V2X service or a frequency band available to the first radioterminal for the V2X service.
 6. The base station apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the V2X terminal information indicates whether thefirst radio terminal is a Road Side Unit (RSU).
 7. The base stationapparatus according to claim 6, wherein the at least one processor isconfigured to, when the first radio terminal is an RSU, transmit to thefirst radio terminal the V2X configuration indicating allocation of aradio resource reserved for RSUs.
 8. The base station apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the V2X configuration indicates the secondradio resource pool to be used by the first radio terminal forautonomous resource selection for the V2X service.
 9. The base stationapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the V2X configuration indicatesallocation of a dedicated radio resource for the V2X service to thefirst radio terminal.
 10. The base station apparatus according to claim1, wherein the base station apparatus serves as a Road Side Unit (RSU)that supports the V2X service.
 11. The base station apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured totransmit, to a target base station, a handover request regarding thefirst radio terminal, and the handover request indicates at least oneof: the first radio terminal is interested in the V2X service; the firstradio terminal has already been allowed to utilize the V2X service; thefirst radio terminal has already been authenticated for the V2X service;and the first radio terminal has already been approved for the V2Xservice.
 12. The base station apparatus according to claim 11, whereinthe at least one processor is configured to, in response to thetransmission of the handover request, receive from the target basestation a handover response indicating V2X configuration of a targetcell.
 13. The base station apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theV2X support information indicates a first radio resource pool and asecond radio resource pool, wherein the first radio resource pool andthe second radio resource pool are configured for autonomous resourceselection for the V2X service by a plurality of radio terminalsincluding the first radio terminal, wherein the V2X support informationindicates the first radio resource pool is associated with a first V2Xservice area, and wherein the V2X support information indicates thesecond radio resource pool is associated with a second V2X service area,and wherein at least one of the first V2X service area and the secondV2X service area at least partially covers each of two or more cells ofthe cellular communication network.
 14. The base station apparatus ofclaim 13, wherein at least one of the first V2X service area and thesecond V2X service area corresponds to two or more cells of the cellularcommunication network.
 15. A method in a base station apparatus used ina cellular communication network, the method comprising: transmittingV2X support information indicating that a Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X)Service is supported by a serving network including the base stationapparatus; and in response to receiving V2X terminal informationtransmitted from a first radio terminal that has received the V2Xsupport information, transmitting V2X configuration to the first radioterminal, wherein the V2X terminal information indicates a frequencywhich is used by the first radio terminal for the V2X service.
 16. Themethod according to claim 15, wherein the V2X terminal informationindicates at least one of a frequency band that the first radio terminalsupports for the V2X service or a frequency band available to the firstradio terminal for the V2X service.
 17. The method according to claim15, wherein the V2X support information indicates a first radio resourcepool and a second radio resource pool, wherein the first radio resourcepool and the second radio resource pool are configured for autonomousresource selection for the V2X service by a plurality of radio terminalsincluding the first radio terminal, wherein the V2X support informationindicates the first radio resource pool is associated with a first V2Xservice area, and wherein the V2X support information indicates thesecond radio resource pool is associated with a second V2X service area,and wherein at least one of the first V2X service area and the secondV2X service area at least partially covers each of two or more cells ofthe cellular communication network.
 18. A radio terminal comprising: atleast one wireless transceiver; and at least one processor configuredto: receive V2X support information from a serving network via the atleast one wireless transceiver, the V2X support information indicatingthat a Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Service is supported by the servingnetwork; transmit V2X terminal information to the serving network inresponse to receiving the V2X support information, the V2X terminalinformation indicating that the radio terminal is interested in the V2Xservice; receive V2X configuration that is transmitted from the servingnetwork in response to the transmission of the V2X terminal information;and perform V2X communication in accordance with the V2X configuration,wherein the V2X terminal information indicates a frequency which is usedby the first radio terminal for the V2X service.
 19. The radio terminalaccording to claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is configuredto receive the V2X support information on both a first carrier frequencyband used for cellular communication and a second carrier frequency bandused for the V2X service.
 20. The radio terminal according to claim 18,wherein the V2X terminal information indicates at least one of afrequency band that the radio terminal supports for the V2X service or afrequency band available to the radio terminal for the V2X service. 21.The radio terminal according to claim 18, wherein the V2X terminalinformation indicates wither the radio terminal is a Road Side Unit(RSU).
 22. The radio terminal according to claim 21, wherein the atleast one processor is configured to, in response to the transmission ofthe V2X terminal information indicating that the radio terminal is anRSU, receive the V2X configuration indicating allocation of a radioresource reserved for RSUs.
 23. The radio terminal according to claim18, wherein the V2X support information indicates a first radio resourcepool and a second radio resource pool, wherein the first radio resourcepool and the second radio resource pool are configured for autonomousresource selection for the V2X service by a plurality of radio terminalsincluding the first radio terminal, wherein the V2X support informationindicates the first radio resource pool is associated with a first V2Xservice area, and wherein the V2X support information indicates thesecond radio resource pool is associated with a second V2X service area,and wherein at least one of the first V2X service area and the secondV2X service area at least partially covers each of two or more cells ofthe cellular communication network.
 24. The base station apparatusaccording to claim 13, wherein the first radio resource pool furthercomprises: a radio resource pool per type of V2X service included in theV2X service; a radio resource pool per V2X operation mode of a radioterminal; a radio resource pool per device type of a radio terminal; ora radio resource pool per pre-configured category.